Bayern chief Rummenigge's warning over 2022 winter World Cup switch

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Updated 11:16 AM ET, Fri January 24, 2014

2022 World Cup in Qatar13 photos

Decision made – Sepp Blatter, the president of world football's governing body FIFA, announced that a redacted version of the report into the alleged wrongdoing surroiunding the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups would be published.

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2022 World Cup in Qatar13 photos

'Picasso gift' – A published report claims UEFA president Michel Platini was gifted a Picasso painting in return for support for the Russia 2018 World Cup bid. Platini strenuously denies the allegation.

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2022 World Cup in Qatar13 photos

Qatar and Russia cleared – Russia and Qatar, the hosts of the two World Cups, have been cleared of allegations of corruption by FIFA. Russia, the 2018 host and Qatar, which will host the tournament in 2022, were absolved of wrongdoing.

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2022 World Cup – Michael Garcia (left) handed his report on the bidding process for the 2018 / 2022 World Cups to the FIFA Ethics Committee. Garcia has also called for the findings of his report to be made public.

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2022 World Cup in Qatar13 photos

2022 controversy continues – FIFA has been plagued by a series of problems and controversies since Russia and Qatar was awarded the right to stage the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

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World Cup heat – The announcement by FIFA in 2010 that Qatar would host the 2022 World Cup finals has brought greater exposure for the tiny emirate.

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Off message? – It has also placed world governing body FIFA under pressure as to just when the tournament will be held. The organization's secretary general Jerome Valcke says he expects the 2022 World Cup to be played between November and January.

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Workers' rights – It's not just when the 2022 World Cup will be played that has caused Qatar and FIFA problems. Qatar has come under pressure over the plight of the country's migrant workers, who make up 90 per cent of Qatar's population.

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Rage against machine – This has been been highlighted by the International Trade Union Confederation, which has criticized Qatar's system of sponsorship which ties workers to employers and has been abused in the past. The ITUC also point to the high number of worker deaths and the conditions that many find themselves in. Temperatures on building sites in the summer months can hit 50 degree Celcius.

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Back to the future – Qatar's ambitious plans for the 2022 World Cup include building brand new, state of the art stadiums that would rival any in the world.

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Island in the sun – But costs have spiraled and the technology has yet to be successfully deployed in full.

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Waiting game – But the new allegations by the Sunday Times could, if proven, see the vote for the 2022 final rerun, making questions about timing irrelevant.

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Putin role highlighted – The Sunday Times report also claims Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) allegedly won the covert support of FIFA President Sepp Blatter (R) to enhance the claims of the Russia 2018 bid.

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Story highlights

Bayern chief Karl-Heinz Rummenigge says 2022 World Cup should be played in winter

Playing in summer heat in Qatar 'not very intelligent'

Rummenigge also chairs European Clubs Association of 100 top clubs

Demands changes to the football calendar be for a single season only

Bayern Munich chief Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has signaled his support for a winter World Cup in Qatar in 2022 but with the crucial caveat that any change to the football calendar must be for a single season only.

The former German international striker is also chairman of the European Clubs Association (ECA), representing over 100 top clubs, including Champions League holders Bayern.

"Everyone of us has the understanding that it is acceptable just to change one season," he told CNN.

"I know that there may be discussions about a second or third season but that is not acceptable to the clubs or the leagues," he added.

Ever since Qatar was awarded the rights to host the 2022 finals there has been an ongoing controversy over the dates of the competition because of the climactic conditions in the Gulf state in June and July, when it it is scheduled to be played.

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Earlier this month, FIFA secretary-general Jerome Valcke gave a radio interview in France in which he appeared to suggest that the world governing body had already decided to switch to a November starting date to avoid average summer temperatures of between 35 degrees Celsius (95 Fahrenheit) and 45 degrees (113 Fahrenheit).

FIFA moved quickly to qualify his remarks, saying the decision was subject to an "ongoing consultation process" with key stakeholders such as the major European leagues.

Rummenigge, 58, told CNN that "it is not very intelligent playing a World Cup in the summer in Qatar when it is too hot, something like 50 degrees Celsius.

"It's not good for the players or the supporters and it would be wise to find a better date," he added.

But Rummenigge acknowledged this would not be an easy task, with the English Premier League voicing its opposition to a winter World Cup.

"We have to find is the best date acceptable for leagues, clubs and federation because if you change to the Valcke idea of mid-November to December that would completely change the calendar for the Premier League and Bundesliga."

Rummenigge has stood by his former club and international teammate, who has remained on the Bayern Munich board despite the charges against him, which could carry a jail term if he is found guilty.

At the annual meeting of the Bavarian giants last November, Rummenigge's words of support for Hoeness moved the 62-year-old to tears and he promised to put himself up for re-election after his trial, which is scheduled for March.

"We hope the outcome will be good for him and he can continue his life work with Bayern Munich," said Rummenigge.

Bayern will emerge from the Bundesliga winter break of five weeks Friday with a match against Borussia Moenchengladbach with a seven-point lead and still on course to repeat their triple of last season.